unlock sprint iphone 5

Let the moral be, "Buy from an authorized seller."

I also bought a phone from an ebay seller and did not realize it was locked to Sprint. I have tried unlock software off the internet from 2 different companies claiming they can unlock and iphone 5 - both couldn't. I have called Sprint twice and they have said unless I live in USA I cannot unlock it through them, and Apple have said they can do nothing. I am in the same situation right now. I will most likely have to sell it back although the seller did say at one point he/she would replace the phone with an unlocked one but now doesn't seem so helpful. It is very frustrating but I guess the bottom line is that I should have read the fine print 🙂. Another lesson learned.

My question is "Why are phones being locked to a carrier at all?" Apparently companies can't lock to their own carriers here in New Zealand. It's not a scheme to help the customer, only the company its locked to.

Sprint and other "authorized iPhone sellers" subsidize the iPhone very heavily. This means the carrier pays Apple much more for the phone than it's sold to the customer, with that difference between the purchase price and the selling price being the subsidized amount on the customer's behalf. In order for the carrier to make a profit on the transaction (the purchase of your iPhone) a contract (usually 2 years) is required. Wireless carriers often subsidize popular wireless devices hoping that a specified contract term allows them a chance to recover the subsidy cost paid to the handset manufacturer and to sell the customer (handset, iPhone purchaser) add-on services. This arrangement allows the end user to purchase an expensive handset for a deeply discounted price in exchange for paying to use the carrier's network for a specified term and monthly fee. Early termination fees or ETF's usually apply if you break your contract with the carrier.

Thanks so much for that information BentleyRoyce, I can see why they do it now.

I finally am having it unlocked in another country for a large amount, which adds heaps more to the cost of the original purchase, so although I'll have an unlocked iphone 5 (when I get to use it) it will have cost me much more than the original purchase price. Can't wait to get it back and use it 🙂

Bad idea. Sell it back to someone in the U.S. who can use it. If you have someone else unlock it, odds are that you will end up with abrick if you try to update it.